"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
It's about that time again
so pack your bags and get ready
hittin' the road with the best of friends
and you know that you're gonna rocksteady
ain't gotta listen to your teacher when
you're gettin' wasted by the beach again
you got Ballyhoo! pumpin' in your stereo
this is the summer jam so, here we go
jump out line and start to unwind
before you gotta get back to the grind and
don't waste a minute of your summertime
sing it one more time!
jump out line and start to unwind
before you gotta get back to the grind and
don't waste a minute of your summertime
carona and a lime
let's go talk to pretty girls again
i know this time we'll get lucky
there must something 'bout the ocean air
that makes them all act so slutty
somebody broke into the weed again
big d did sixty seconds up on the keg stand
invite a thousand people up to the hotel
we'll never get in trouble but go straight to hell
so pack your bags and get ready
hittin' the road with the best of friends
and you know that you're gonna rocksteady
ain't gotta listen to your teacher when
you're gettin' wasted by the beach again
you got Ballyhoo! pumpin' in your stereo
this is the summer jam so, here we go
jump out line and start to unwind
before you gotta get back to the grind and
don't waste a minute of your summertime
sing it one more time!
jump out line and start to unwind
before you gotta get back to the grind and
don't waste a minute of your summertime
carona and a lime
let's go talk to pretty girls again
i know this time we'll get lucky
there must something 'bout the ocean air
that makes them all act so slutty
somebody broke into the weed again
big d did sixty seconds up on the keg stand
invite a thousand people up to the hotel
we'll never get in trouble but go straight to hell
Lyrics submitted by l0vershavewings
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.